Oil Spill Near Woods Hole

[JohnR]

Here is some more ifo on this spill - this sucks!

http://www.buzzardsbay.org/oilspill-4-28-03.htm

Bouchard Barge 120, carrying 865,200 gallons of Number 6 ("Bunker C") fuel oil started leaking oil Sunday night, somewhere outside of Buzzards Bay, possibly in Rhode Island waters. Because of sea conditions and to assist in containment, the Coast Guard directed the barge to anchor in central Buzzards Bay at Buoy 10 to facilitate the cleanup (about a distance of 18 miles). The barge reached this anchorage (also called "Anchorage Lima") on or before 5:30 AM Monday. The starboard storage tank reported ruptured on the bottom of the hull below the water, likely the result of striking bottom.

Buoy 10 is in central Buzzards Bay, about 5 miles WNW of Woods Hole in Falmouth and 3 Miles SE of West Island in Fairhaven. On Monday, the Coast Guard estimated more than 14,700 gallons had already spilled from a 12-foot by 2-foot crack or gash on the underside of the barge. This estimate has not been revised....


...Oil reported on shore

Monday afternoon we received a phoned in report from Oil was first reported onshore of Westport 1 PM Monday. Coalition for Buzzards Bay Director Mark Rasmussen: Oil on Barneys Joy Dartmouth and in the Slocums River, oiled birds in Westport. Oil also seen along the Elizabeth Island chain, believed to be coming ashore at Penikese and Nashawena. Mark reported what looked like "tar balls" floating in the bay, but this is a very viscous oil that looks like lumps when it floats on the surface. by late Monday, a command center was set up on the Causeway to West Island in Fairhaven where a considerable amount of oil washed ashore.